cheney



Dec. 21 1925 v 1,611,415

' H. N. CHENEY MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE VALVES 0F GAS SETS Filed August 4, 19 6 Sheets-Sheet l 1 0/; Kurt ATmJe/VEK Dec. 21,1926; 1 1,611,115

H. N. CHENEY MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE VALVES OF GAS SETS Filed Augusfc 4, 1 6 Sheets Sheet 2 Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,415

- H. N. CHENEY MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE VALVES OF GAS SETS Filed ust 4, 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 J 1 p I Arraems-vv H. N. CHENEY MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE" VALVES OF GAS SETS Filed August 4:, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,415

H. N. CHENEY MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE VALVES OF GAS SETS F iled August 4, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 21 .1926] 1,611,415

H. N. CHENEY MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE VALVES 0F GAS SETS Filed August 4, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Dec. 21, 1926.

- UNETEB STATES FATENT fiSSIG-NOR T0. THE GAS MACHIN- CGRE'ORATIOH OF OHI MEANS FOR AUTGMA'IICALLY GPERATING THE VALVES OF GAS SETS.

Application filcd August 4, 1924.

My invention relates to apparatus for antoma'tically actuating the Valves of a watergas set so as to produce a predetermined sequence of valve operation comprising a cycle of steps such as is required in the normal, that is co rect, operation of the set, as for example is shown, described and claimed in U. S. Patent No 1,497,247, issued June 10. 1924, to Pierre Plantinga.

The object of the invention is to provide means associated and coordinating with such apparatus of the above described character whereby, when the predetermined sequence of valve operation is interrupted or destroyed, the valves will be automatically actuated to assume positions such as, in the event of the subsequent operation thereof will prevent accident or undesirable conditions, that is, place the valves on what is commonly referred to in the art as safety, i. e.,in a safe position.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

More particularly, the invention in the specific form hereinafter described and illustrated by the drawings, includes, in addition to the provision of means for operating the various valves so as to produce the re quired sequence of steps, hydraulically operated pistons and cylinders therefor for closing the valves, and mechanism dependent for its operation upon the destruction or interruption of the normal sequence of valve movements whereby all such valves which, in order to be in safe position, should be either open or closed are so opened or closed. Such safe position of the valves is that in which the stack valve is open, the generator blast-valve, carburetor blast-valve, oilvalve, and generatorsteam-valve closed, as is understood by those skilled in the art.

This mechanism, in the illustrated and described apparatus, consists of an emergencyvalve which permits the cylinders forming part of the valve-operating devices, to drain and allow the stack-valve to open and the generator blast, carburetor blast, oil, and generator steam-valves to close by gravity, and the operation of such, emergency-valve is dependent upon the failure of the mechanism for opening the stack-valve, closing the generator blast-valve orthe steam-valve toppen or close, to function.

l t it? he iin-zlersteml hon Jar, and the Serial No. 729,950.

subsequent description in connection with the drawings will make it apparent to those skilled in the art, that the apparatus might be modified to make the emergency mechanism function in consequence of the failure of any other of the valves to function in the normal or required manner, as for instance the opening or closing of the carburetor blast-valve, the closing; of the stackvalve, the opening or closing of the oilvalve, or the opening or closing of the steam reversing-valve. I have found, however that, in so far as I am at present aware, the dependency of the emergency mechanism upon the functioning of the generator blast, stack and steam-valves in the manner described, is sufiicient for practical purposes, and have hence illustrated and described my invention accordingly.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in, which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic ele vation of the valve controllingmechanism of a water-gas set to which my invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 represents a plan of part of the control or timing mechanism.

Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of said timing and valve-operating mechanism as viewed from the plane indicated by line Ill-ITI, Fig. 2, and in the direction indicated by the arrows. I

Fig. at represents a detail plan of the driving pawl of the timing mechanism as viewed from the plane indicated by line IVTV in Fig. 3, and in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 represents a detail plan of the emergency control arm as viewed from the plane indicated by line VV in Fig. 3, and in the direction indicated by tne arrows.

Fig. 6 represents a section taken upon the plane indicated by line VIVI, 2.

Fig. 7 represents a section, on an enlarged scale, taken upon the plane indicated by line VTI II, Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. I

Fig. 7 repres'ents a section take 'upon the indicated by line VIB l Fig.7;

jie 'resente a secticu ted in upointhc luu plane indicated by line VITIVITI, Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive represent, upon an enlarged scale, fragmentary detail elevations ot the timing disk which controls the actuation of the mechanism for closing the steam- ,valve, together with parts of such mechanism, showing the same in different positions. These figures furthermore serve to i].- lustrate the construction of the timing disks which control the actuation of the mechanism for opening the stack-valve and closing the generator blast-valve, as they are oitlike construction.

Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive represent, upon an enlarged scale, fragmentary detail elevations of the timing disk which controls the actuation of the mechanism for opening said steam-valve.

For the purposes of the application, I shall refer to the illustrated form oi? my invention as comprising the following:

F'rst;Means for actuating the valves so as to producea predetermined sequence of operation thereof and as is required to normally operate the gas-set, and which incl udcs (a) Means for positively operating the generator blast, carburetor blast, generator steam, the lower hot-valve, and oil-valves to open and the stack-valve and upper hotvalve to close.

(1)) Means for gravitationally operating the generator blast, carburetor blast, gener ator steam, lower hot-gas and oil-valves to close and the stack-valve and upper hot-- valve to open.

(1;) Means for controlling or timing the valve operating means whereby the desired sequence of valve-operation is secured.

((1) Means associated with the valve-operating means for locking the controlling or timing means.

(6) Means controlled by the operation of the valves for unlocking the controlling or timing means.

Sec0nd,'-Einergcncy means adapted to operate when the normal sequence of valve operation is interrupted or destroyed and controlled by the inoperation of the timing or controlling means, whereby the generator blast, carburel or blast and generator steainvalves are closed and the stack-valve opened, thus assuming concomitantly the sate position.

In said illustrated application of my invention and referring primarily to Fig. 1, the water-gas set includes a generator (not shown) provided with a blast-valve 1. an upper generator outlet or hot-gas valve 2, a lower generator outlet or hot-gas valve 3, and a generator steam-valve 4, the latter being connected with a suitable source of steam supply at one side and with the generator at the other, all in the usual and Well-known manner. As is also customary, a reversing valve 5 is interposed between the steam-valve 1 and generator, and the said reversing-valve and the upper and lower hot-gas valves are connectec by suitable linkage (as shown in Fig. 1), so that when said upper hot-gas valve 2 is open, lower valve will be closed and the reversing-valve 5 in a position in which the steam will pass into the lower part of the generator; and when the lower hot. gas valve 3 is open, the upper hot-gas valve 2 is closed and the reversing valve is i a position in which the steam will enter the top of the generator. By this arrangement, the up or down run may be effected in the usual way, as will be understood.

As is also common practice, an oil valve (3 is associated with the carburetor (not shown) for carburetting the blue water-gas, and a blast-valve 7 provided for supplying air to the carburetor durins the blast.

The usual stack 8 is assoc ated with the superheater 9 and provided with the stackvalve 10. i

A hydraulic cylinder 11 and piston there for is connected with the generator blast)- valve 1 in such a manner that when the hy draulic pressure is applied to the bottom of the piston it will raise and open the said valve 1. To this end, an inlet pipe 12 is connected with a pump 13, and the application oi the pressure created by the pump to the said piston, controlled by a suitable valve 14:.

The outlet from said cylinder is formed by a pipe 15 which connects with a main exhaust-line 16 which may, as shown, discharge into a suitable tank 17.

Likewise the lower hot-gas valve 3 is connected, with a similar piston operating in a cylinder 18, having an inlet-pipe 19 earn nected with a second hydraulic controlvalve 141, and an outlet-pipe 20 connected with'the main exhaust-line 16, as shown.

The generator steam-valve 4 is connected with the piston of a hydraulic cylinder 21, having the inlet-pipe 22 connected with a third valve 14 and outlet-pipe 23 connected with the main exhaust-line 16; and the can biiretor blast-valve 7 is similarly connected with the piston ot' a cylinder 24, inletpipe and outlet-pipe 26, the cxliarn-1t-line '16 and a tourth valve 14;.

The oil-valve 6 is similarly connected with the piston of a cylinder 27, the latter being connected with a sixth valve 14 by means of the inlet-pipe 28, the outlet-pipe 29 connecting the cylinder with the main exhaustline 16.

The stack-valve 10 is provided with the cylinder 30 and piston therefor, having the inlet-pipe 31 and the outlet-pipe 32 and sixth valve 14 and connected in a similar drawing.

the

However, the connection between the stack-vs-ilve and its hydraulic piston is such that when the pressure is admitted to the cylinder, the piston will move so as to close said stack-valve.

The valves 14 are all alike, of piston construction and such that each, when moved in one direction, will admit pressure to the corresponding cylinder, and when moved in the other direction will shut off such connection, the discharge-pipes 15, 20, 23, 26, 29, and 32 acting merely to relieve any pressure on the upper sides of the pistons which would otherwise counteract the motive water-pressure upon the lower sides thereof.

Should any water leak past the pistons, it will be discharged into tank 17, as will be understood.

An auxiliary exhaust-pipe 14 is provided with which all of the valves 14 communicate and is connected with-the main exl'iaust-line 16 as shown in Fig. 1.

During the operation of the set, when an one of the valves 14 is shifted to open, the

water under pressure is admitted through its inlet-pipe to the corresponding cylinder on one side of the piston and at the same time communication exists between the outlet-pipe and the exhaust-pipe 16. This re sults in the opening of the corresponding gas-set valve with the exception of the stack and upper hot-gas valve, which would be closed.

Vi en the valve 14 is returned to its initial position, the inletpipe is connected to exhaust-line 14' and the corresponding gas-set valve actuated in the other direction gravitationally, as. will hereinafter appear.

The arrangement thus far described is similar to that shown and described in PatcntNo. 1.497.246 issued to Pierre Planting-a, June th, 1924, with the exception of the gravitational actuation of the gas-set valves. in addition, however, I provide the valves, 3. 4, 6. 7. and 10 with counterweights (33, 35, 36, 37, and 38 respectively) and valve with an additional counterweight 39 to counteract the weightof the upper hot-gas valve These weights are of a mass suffcient to close their respective valves by it-y, when the water is drained from the pressure side of the cylinder through the inlet-pipes thereof, with the exception of the stack-valve. which would be opened, all as will be described.

For controlling or timing the operation of these various valvesl provide an automatically operating mechanism 40 which I shall now describe, and which in its general principle of operation is similar to that of above-mentioned patent. This mechanism is indicated in outline only in Fig. 1, 7 but details of its construction are shown in to 6 inclusive and Fi s. 8 to 14 in 1 a. c 7 cursive.

Referring now to such detail construction, as shown in Fig. 2, a series of .six pairs of disks 41 and 41, 42 and 42, 43 and 43, 44 and 44, 45 and 45 and 46 and 46 is provided, fixedly mounted upon a suitable shaft 4?; upon one end of this shaft is mounted a ratchet-wheel 48, Fig. 3, in a manner hereinafter described, yieldingly to drive said shaft. This wheel is driven by a pawl 49 pivoted upon a pin 50 mounted in the end of a rocker-arm 51 pivotally mounted on a stationary shaft 52. This pawl 49 is oscillated in any suitable manner, as is, for example, explained in connection with said patented device, by'the arm 54 and connecting link 53.

Said pawl is normally heldin engagement with the wheel 48, by a counterweight 48 in the usual manner.

The arm 54 is secured to the shaft 55, to which latter are secured six rocker-arms 56. Each of the latter is connected with two pawls, 57, 57', to which are connected the lower ends of rods 58, 58, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected with the dogs 59 and 59, having end lugs 60, 60, which in the normal operation periodically drop into recesses intersecting the peripheries of the timing disks, thus actuating in the required sequence, the six hydraulic valves 14 and consequently the various gas-set valves in the desired sequence.

The disks 41 and 41, 42, 43, 44 and 44', 46 and 46 are all constructed and operate exactly as described in the said patent and shown in Fig. 8 of this application. Disk 41 controls the opening and disk 41, the closing of the carburetor blast-valve 7. Disk 42 controls the opening of the generator blast-valve 1. Disk 44 controls the opening and disk 44' the closing of the oil-valve 6. Disk 43 controls the closing of the stackvalve 10. Disks 46 and 46 control the re vcrsing of the reversing-valve 5, and upper and lower gas-valves.

It will be understood that a complete cycle of gas-making steps is effected during one complete revolution of the controlling disks.

I have, however, made certain additions to and modifications of the valve-operating mechanism and control means, for effecting the previously described purposes of the invention which I shall now describe, and these modifications are adopted in connection with the means for opening the stack-valve, closing the generator blast-valve and opening and ciosing the generator steam-valve, and the disks controlling same.

I shall first describe these modifications as applied to the generator steamvalve, and which are illustrated by Figs. 6 and 9 to 14 inclusive, in connection with the diagram niatic Fig. 1.

In the present instance, the direction. of

rotation of the disks is that indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, Figs. 6 and 9 to 14.

Referring first to Figs. 9, 10, and 11 which illustrate particularly the disk 45 which controls the closing of the steam-valve, the said disk is provided with the notch 61 be hind which (referring to the direction of disk rotation) is the peripheral projection or lug 62. Normally the lug 60 formed in the end of dog 59 rides on the cylindrical peripheral surface of said disk as shown in ig. 9. When the said notch and lug register, Fig. 10, dog 59 drops and causes the dog 57 to actuate the corresponding valve 14 to eflect the shifting of the generator steam-valve to close.

The form of said notch and lug, it will be seen, is such that the disk 45 becomes locked and further rotation thereof and of the other disks ceases. The shifting of the valve 14 opens the inlet-pipe 22, Fig. 1, to the previously described exhaust-pipe 14 common to all the valves, and connected with the main exhaust-line 16. The weight 35 then closes steam-valve 4 by gravity.

The dog 59 has its outer end projecting into the path of operation of a solenoid core 64 actuated upwardly by a solenoid coil 65 when the latter is energized. This core is interposed in an electrical circuit which includes two terminal stationary contacts 66 and 67, Fig. 1. A contact member 69 is also carried by a moving part of the valve 4, as for instance the valve stem, and is adapted to engage the contact 66 when the valve is open and engage the contact member 67 when the valve is closed.

As will be later described, the engagement of the contact 67 with contact member 69 will complete an electrical circuit including the coil 65, energize the latter and raise the core 64. This will result in the actuation of dog 59 so as to disengage the lug 60 from notch 61, and remove it from the path of movement of the projection or lug 62 as shown in Fig. 11. This action will, as hereinafter described, permit the resumption of the rotation of the controlling disks, and the dog 59 will be held by the solenoid core in the last described position, until the said circuit is subsequently broken,- whereupon the said dog will reassume its normal and properposition shown in Fig. 9, ready to be actuator again as described, in the next cycle of operation.

Let it now be assumed that for some accidental cause, such as, for example, the inadvertent interposition of some obstruction, the dog 59 would be prevented from engaging the notch 61'. In such event the dog 57 would fail to drop so as to shift the corresponding valve 14 to cl'bse the steam-valve 4, thus interrupting or destroying the required sequence of operations. This would therefore result in the engagement of lug 62' with lug 60' and the look ing of the disks against further rotation.

Should this eventuality take place, the arrangement is such that the emergency mechanism, later to be described, will be made effective and the hydraulic cylinders disconnected from the source of pressure whereby the weights 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 will be permitted to close such of the valves 1, 8, 4, 6 and 7 as may be open, and open stack-valve 10, thereby setting them in a position of safety.

Let it now be assumed that the dog 59 has been allowed to move so as to engage the notch 61, thereby resulting in the closing of the steam-valve as required and effecting engagement of the contacts 67 and 69 as before described, and let it be further assumed that for some accidental reason the closing of said circuit does not result in the movement of the core 64 -as for instance a defect in the electrical circuit. Under these circumstances the dog will remain in engagement with and lock the disk 45 and further rotation thereof and of all the other disks stopped so that the resumption of the dogs normal position for the opening of the steam-valve at the proper time in the next cycle would be prevented.

The said sequence would thus again be interrupted and the emergency mechanism brought into play to set the valve in the safe position described.

Let it be assumed that the locking-dog 59 operates properly, the valve 14 is prop erly shifted, but that the corresponding gas set valve does not close. In such event the necessary circuit will not be established and the. dog will not become unlocked, thereby again rendering the emergency mechanism etlective.

In order to allow the solenoid core to attain sufiieientmomentum to insure the actuation of the dog 59, I provide the latter with a pivotal end-piece 64" which has a limited free movement and normally rests upon the core 64 as shown. The initial part of the upward movement of said core will not actuate said (leg, but as soon as the limit of movement of said end piece is reached, the required tripping of the dog will be effected. By that time the core will have acquired momentum sufficient to insure 1 such tripping action.

I shall now describe the emergency mechanism which permits the gravitational operation of the gas-set valves when the normal sequence of their operation is interrupted or destroyed, as above described.

The ratchet-wheel 48, as previously stated, is mounted upon one end of the disk-driving shaft 47. This wheel is formed with a hub 70 which is provided with two opposite 1y disposed helical lugs 71, 71, Fig. 7. Upon the hub 70 is mounted the outer hub 72 of a disk 73, said hub being formed with two helical grooves 74, 74, into which said lugs project and in which they are adapted to travel. An inner disk-hub 75 projects into the hub 70 and is fixed against rotation on shaft l'l', but allowed to move longitudinally thereon by a spline 76.

interposed between. the d'sk 73 and wheel d8 is a coil-spring 77having one end attached to said disk and the other to said wheel. Normally, therefore, thewheel 48 will drive and rotate disk 73 at the wheels speed of rotation.

It will therefore be seen that wheel l8 is yieldingly connected with the shaft 47 through spring 77. As a'result, should the shaft beheld against rotation while the driving pawl 49, Fig. 3, is being oscillated, the wheel 48 will continue to rotate. Such continued rotation will cause the hub 70 to continue to rotate, but inasmuch as, at such time, the disk 73, fixed to rotate with shaft 47, will be" stationary, the lugs 71, 71, will move in grooves 74 and shift said disk longitudinally of said shaft. I

Normally resting upon the periphery of disk 73 is the end of a bell-crank arm 78, Fig. 3. The other arm 79 of said crank is connected b means of a. link 80 with a -just described, to cause said arm to become disengaged from the disk 73, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 5.

Should, in any given case, the improper or undesired action of any one of the locking-dogs 59 and 59, take place, asfor instance by failure of the solenoid core'to operate to release it when required, it will be noted that some little time elapses before the arm 78 is disengaged from the disk 7 3. If, therefore, the solenoid should act subsequently to the normal time of performance of its function, but before the said arm 78 is disengaged from disk 7 3, the corresponding control disk will be unlocked and the disk 7 3 be returned to its normal position by the spring, thereby avoiding unnecessary operation of the emergency valve. Such condition therefore permits of the positioning of the notches of the control disks so that where it is necessary, a close sequence of operation of different valves may be arranged for.

he en'iergency-valve85 is so constructed that it controls the communication of the pressure to all of the valves l-l, and is normally in its open position. closed, it cuts as such pressure simultaneously from all of said valves and connects the exhaust side thereof with an additional exhaust-line 86, Fig. 1.

sponding valves 1, 3, 4, 6, or 7 which may be open, to close or the stack-valve 1-0 if closed to open.

The detailed construction of the hydraulic valves 14: and of the emergency-valve together with the latters connection with. and relationship to the said valves 14, form no part of the present invention and can be designed by. anyone skilled in the art of hydraulic engineering, to meet the specifications above described.

A suitable handle 87 is connected with the slide83 whereby the emergency-valve may be shifted to its open and normal position as will be understood.

' When the emergency-valve is shifted to become operative, as described, handle 87 ass mes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and means are provided, when this occurs, to throw the driving-pawl 1-9 out of engagement with ratchet-wheel l8, and thus render the driving means inoperative.

These means include a cam 88 which, when the handle is in said described position, en-

gages a roller 89 mounted upon the said pawl 49 and in such position that it will be engaged by cam 88, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and tilt the pawl so as to disengage said wheel 48, as will be readily understood. hen this occurs, it will be seen that the driving mechanism becomes inoperative, and all further operation of the gas-set ceases. It will be understood, of course, that all of the hydraulic valves are provided, as shown and described in said patent, with handles similar to handle 87, whereby they may be properly set manually for resum ing the operation of the gas-set, after such described cessation, or operating the gas set manually.

In preparation for such resumption, the arm 78 is also lifted manually, whereupon, after the particular dog 59 or 53 has been manually released, the spring 77 causes the disk 7 3 to reassume its normal position, and when said arm is then released, it again on the periphery of said disk.

The controlling disk 45 for opening tne steam-valve is constructed similarly to the disk 4-5 with such modifications as are necessitated by the required location of the corresponding dog 59 on the other side of the vertical axial plane of the control mechanism, as shown in Fig. 6.

To this end, the said dog 59 is provided with the lug 60, adapted to engage the notch 61 in the disk 45, and connected with said dog is the rod 58 and the dog 57, which latter when it drops, operates the corresponding hydraulic valve 14 in a direction opposite that above described in connection with the operation of controlling disk 45'. Also just behind the notch 61 is the projection 62.

A solenoid core 64 is associated with said dog, as shown in Fig. 6, operated b a solenoid coil 65. The latter, as indicate is in an electrical circuit which is controlled by the engagement of contacts 66 and 69, as will hereinafter appear.

As in the case of the dog 59 and disk 45', should dog 59 fail to engage notch 61. lug 62 will engage lug 60, lock the controlling disk 45 and cause, in the previously described manner, the actuation of the emergency-valve and the consequent setting of the various valves in their safe position.

Should said dog 59 engage said notch but the solenoid not become operative so as to again release it and unlock said disk 45, then said dog remains in engagement and the emergency mechanism will become effective, Fig. 13,

Disks 42' and 43 are constructed exactly as is disk 15 and the coordinating valve op erating mechanism is precisely similar to that described in connection with the said disk 45. As a result should the said disk 42' or its associated locking dog tail of normal control in the desired manner, that is should the generator blast valve fail to close in accordance with the desired predetermined sequence, the emergency mechanism will be come operative and set the various valves in their safe position.

Likewise, should disk 43' and its associated locking dog tail of normal control, that is should the stack valve fail to open in accordance with the desired predetermined sequence, the emergency mechanism will again become effective.

The mechanism associated with disks 42' and 43' includes solenoid coils 91 and 92 respectively operating as do solenoid coils 65 and 65';

I shall now describe the electrical connections whereby the various solenoids 65, 65', 91 and 92 are energized.

One end of coil 65 is connected with terminal 66, Fig. 1, by means of conductor 93. The other end of said coil is connected by conductor 94 with the ground conductor 95. One end of coil 65 is connected with the conductor 94 and the other by a conductor 96 with a stationary contact terminal 97 associated with the lower hot-gas valve 3,

which is engaged by a movable contact 98 connected with a moving part of said valve.

One end of solenoid coil 92 is connected associated with a movable part of carburetor wvalve 7, and its other end by means of conductor 104 with the ground conductor 95.

Stationary contact terminal 67 is connected by means of conductor 105 with the movable contact 106 associated with oil valve 6, and said contact is adapted to engage the stationary contact 107 when the said oilvalve is closed.

Contact member 107 is connected by means ill of conductor 108 with the stationary contact 35 terminal 98 as previously mentioned.

Contact terminal 69 is connected by means of conductor 109 with the main feedin conductor 110 connected with the source 0 electric current.

The generator blast valve has associated therewith two stationary contact terminals 111 and 112 respectively, and a movable contact member 113. Member 111 is connected by means of conductor 114 with a stationary contact member 115 associated with the stack-valve which is adapted to be engaged by contact member when the stack-valve is open.

Contact member 113 is engaged by member 111 when the generator blast valve is open and by member 112 when it is closed.

A conductor 116 connects contact member 112 with a stationary contact member 117 associated with the carburetor blast-valve 7.

I shall now describe one possible cycle of operation of the illustrated water-gas set as constructed, in accordance with the abovedescribed invention.

Let it first be assumed that the stack-valve 10, carburetor blast valve 7, genera-tor steam valve 4, carburetor oil-valve 6, lower hotgas valve 3 and generator blast valve are all closed, the upper hot-gas valve being open by reason of its linked connection with the lower valve 3 as previously described and as is common practice. This condition of the valves I shall assume for the present purposes, to mark the close of a given cycle of valve operations, and the preparatory state for the next cycle.

Under these circumstances, it will be seen from Fig. 1 that the circuit including solenoid coil 91 is closed and said coil is ener gized, resulting in the unlocked condition of the disk 42, Fig. 2, thus allowing the timing or controlling mechanism to resume rotation.

Said timing or controlling mechanism is so adjusted and arranged that it will next effect the operation of the generator blastvalve to open, following which the stackvalve will open. This will result in the engagement of contact members 113 and 111, and 115 and 100, which will result in completing the circuit including and energizing the solenoid'coil 92. This results in the unlocking of disk 43 and the resumption of the rotation of the controlling disks. In case of failure of the blast-valve and stackvalve to open, the emergency mechanism will be brought into operation, as previously described, and set thevalves on safety.

The timing or controlling mechanism next permits the valve-operating mechanism to open the carburetor blast-valve and this operation is performed as in the abovedescribed patented device and by means of a disk 41 which is constructed as in said device and as shown in Fig. 8.

The valve-setting for the blast, which is continued for the required length of time, usually about of the complete cycle or about two minutes, is now complete, the notches of the timing disks being properly spaced and related to each other to permit of the required blast duration.

The timing or controlling mechanism then permits the actuation of the carburetor blast-valve 7 through its actuating mechanism, to close, that is the corresponding hydraulic valve 14 is shifted so as to connect either the carburetor blast or generator blast-valve fail to close the apparatus will go in safety through the'action of the emergency mechanism controlled by the sin gle disk 12'.

1 Following this action the steam-valve 4 is opened and the reversing-valve 5 being already set permits the st'eamto enter the bottom of the generator for an up run, the upper hotgas valve 2 being already open, as previously noted.

The control mechanism then permits the oil-valve to open, afterwhich the upper hotgas valve 2 is closed and the lower hot-gas valve 3 is'opened, the valve 5 being shifted to reverse the steam and send it downwardly through the generator, after which the up run positions of the'ireversing flower hot and upper hot-valves are automatically restored, at which time contacts 97 and 98 again engage.

When the steain' valve opens, contact ter minal's 66' and 69 engage and complete circuit is established consisting of conductors 110, 109, 93, coil 65, conductor 94; and ground conductor 95. The disk will therefore be unlocked as is requiredor ready to efiect the operation of the emer ency mechanism if the sequence be destroyed, all as previously described.

The position of the valves and terminals just described is illustrated by Fig. 1.

Oil-valve next closes and contact terminal 106 engages terminal 107. Steam-valve 4 is then closed, causing terminals 69 and 67 to engage, thus completing a circuit including main conductors 110, 109, 105, 108, 96, and coil conductor 9st and ground terminal 95. The disk 45 will be unlocked whereby the cycle may be completed, as is required or it will be ready to effect the operation of the emergency mechanism if conditions. require it.

The above-described normal operations constitute one complete cycle, as will be understood, which, however, if interrupted or destroyed, in so far as relates to the opening of the stack-valve, or opening or closing of the generator blast, the closing of the car buretor blast, or opening or closing of the steam-valves, the closing of the oil and closing of the lower hot-valves, will result in the setting of all the required valves in the safe position.

While I have shown and described electrical means for controlling and actuating the dogs 59 and 59, it will be apparent that other than such electr'cal means may be devised for accomplishing the same purpose.

What- I claim is:

1. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a plurality of valves; means for actuating said valves so as to produce a predetermined sequence of valveoperation, and including presure-operated pistons connected with said valves; and means ada ted to operate when the normal sequence of valve-operation is destroyed, to relea e the pressure upon one side of said pistons whereby all of said'valves may be caused to assume concomitantly a predetermined posit-ion.

2. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a plurality of valves including a stack-valve; means for actuating said valves so as to produce a predetermined sequence of operations, and including pressure-operated pistons connected with said valves; and means adapted to operate when the normal sequence of valve-operation is de'-troyed, to release thepressure upon one side, of each of said pistons whereby the stack-valve opening means is permitted to operate and the closing means for the remainder of the valves are permitted to oper-- ate. o

3. In an ai'itomatic'valve-contr l apparatus, the combination of a plurality of valves;

uneans for opening and closing said valves;

said opening and closing means cooperating to eficct such opening and closing in a predetermined sequential manner; said closing means being gravity-operated; and means for rendering such gravity-operated closingmeans operative when the predetermined sequence of valve operations is destroyed.

4. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a plurality of valves; hydraulic cylinders and pistons therefor for actuating said valves in one direction; means for controlling the operation of said pistons and cylinders so as to effect a predetermined sequence of operation; gravity-operated means for actuating said valves in the other direction and including an exhaust-valve connected with said cylinders; means for controlling the operation of said exhaust- V valve to effect the exhaust connection when the predetermined sequence of steps in the cycle is destroyed.

5. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a valve; means for actuating said valve; means for controlling said actuating means so as to render same operative and inoperative; said actuat ng means, when rendered ope ative, being adapted to render said controlling means inoperative; and electrical means tor'operating said valve-actuating means to release said controlling means and controlled. by said valve.

6. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a valve; means for actuating said valve; means for controlling said actuating means so as to render same operative or inoperative; said actuating means, when rendered operative, being adapted to render said controlling means inoperative; and an electrical circuit including electrically actuated. means adapted to engage said valve-actuating means so as to release same from said controlling means and render the latter operative; said circuit being controlled by said valve.

7. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a valve; means for actuating said valve; a rotatable timingdisk for controlling the said actuating means whereby the latter may be rendered operative or inoperative; means for rotating said disk; said valve-actuating means including a dog adapted to lock said disk and stop rotation thereof; and means controlled by said valve for unlocking said dog from said disk whereby rotation of the latter may be resumed.

8. In an automatic val ve-control apparatus, the combination of a valve; means for actuating said valve; a rotatable timing-disk for controlling the said actuating means whereby the latter is rendered operative or inoperative: means for rotating said disk: valve-actuating means including a dog adapted to lock said disk and stop rotation thereof; and means controlled by said valve for unlocking said dog from said disk; the latter and said rotating means having a yielding relationship, whereby the driving means may continue to operate while the said disk is stationary.

9. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a valve; means for actuating said valve; a rotatable timingdisk for controlling said actuatin' means whereby the latter may be rendere operative or inoperative; means for rotating said disk; said valve-actuating means including a dog adapted to lock said disk and stop rotation thereof; and an electrical circuit and solenoid controlled thereby, said Solenoid adapted when said circuit is closed to actuate said dog to unlock said disk; said circuit being controlled by said valve.

.10. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a valve; means for actuating said valve; a rotatable timing-disk for controlling said actuating means whereby the latter may be rendered operative or inoperative; means for rotating said disk;

said valve-act-nating means including a dog adapted to lock said disk and stop rotation thereof; and an electrical circuit and solenoid controlled thereby, said solenoid adapted when said circuit is closed, to actuate said dog to unlock said disk; said circuit being controlled by said valve; said dog and disk being furthermore adapted to engage each other and stop such disk rotation subsequently to such unlocking and should said (102 fail to assume its normal unlocking position.

11. In valve-control apparatus, the combination of a rotatable disk and means for rotating same; said disk provided with a shoulder; a dog having a lug adapted to normally ride upon the periphery of said disk and to periodically engage said shoulder and lock said disk against rotation; and means for periodically actuating said dog to disengage said shoulder whereby rotation of said disk may be continued.

12. In valve-control apparatus, the combination of a rotatable disk and means for rotating same; a dog adapted to periodically lock said disk and stop its rotation and provided with a pivoted member having a limited movement on said dog; and means adapted to engage said pivoted member and actuate said dog to unlocksaid disk.

13. In valve-control apparatus, the combination of a rotatable disk and means for rotating same; an oscillatory dog adapted to periodically lock said disk and stop its rotation, one end of said dog being formed by a loosely pivoted member having a limited oscillatory moven'ient; and a solenoid adapted to actuate said pivoted member whereby said dog may be actuated to unlock said disk when the solenoid is energized.

loo

14. In valve-control apparatus, the combination of a rotatable disk and means for rotating same; an oscillatory dog having one end held by gravity in contact with the periphery of said disk; the latter provided with a shoulder which said dog is adapted to engage whereby the said disk may be locked; means when actuated adapted to engage the other end of said dog and unlock said disk; said other end being formed by a pivoted member having a limited free oscillatory movement on the body of the dog.

15. In an automatic valve-control apparatus the combination of a rotatable disk and means for rotating same; an oscillatory dog having one end held by gravity in contact with the periphery of said disk; the latter provided with a shoulder which said dog is adapted to engage whereby said disk may be locked; and a solenoid; one end of said dog gravitationally held in contact with the solenoids core.

16. In an automatic valve-control apparatus the combination of a valve; valveac tuating means including a pressure-operated piston and cylinder therefor; means for periodically actuating said piston to alternately open and close said valve; timingmechanism for controlling said valve-actuation; a relief valve and means for actuating same including an oscillatory dog, whereby the pressure in said cylinder on one side of said piston may be relieved; means for controlling the relief-valve actuation; said latter means comprising a rotatable and longitudinally movable disk with whose periphery said dog normally engages; and means for longitudinally moving said disk whereby said dog may be disengaged therefrom; the operation of said moving means being dependent upon the stoppage of said timingmechanism; said relief-valve actuatingmeans being rendered inoperative by the engagement of said dog with said disk and operative by its disengagement therefrom.

17. In an automatic valve-control apparatus, the combination of a shaft; a timingdisk fixedly mounted upon said shaft; driving means; and a flexible connection between said driving-means and shaft, whereby said driving-means may be caused to operate while said timing-disk is held stationary; and means for periodically so holding said disk.'

18. In an automatic valve-control apparatus the combination of a shaft; a timingdisk fixedly mounted upon said shaft; driving means; and a coil-spring surrounding a part of said shaft and having one end connected with said driving-means and the other end connected with said disk; and means for periodically holding said disk stationary.

19. In an automatic valve-control apparatus the combination of a shaft; a timingdisk fixedly mounted upon said shaft; a driving-wheel rotatably mounted upon said shaft; a disk member fixed against rotation upon said shaft and having threaded engagement With said wheel; and a coil-spring surrounding said shaft intermediat'ely of said wheel and disk-member, having one end fixed to said wheel and the other fixed to said disk member.

Signed by me this twenty eighth day of July, 1924.

HERBERT N. CHENEY. 

